Lamp construction



Nov. 29, 1955 J. VIGON LAMP CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1953 W HIIIIIIQQ fi l w v m E? U a t 2 E 6 w m H 1 H n 01 H 4 5 m Q 1 M W a Jo m W 4 M H .I Kw If 51 w W I W fixfl HI: v w VH f U ix .f i ///N///4 k 3 4 MM 0% m a a 4 Nov. 29, 1955 J VIGQN 2,725,464

LAMP CONSTRUCTION Filed June 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ()fiiice 2,725,464 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 LAMP CONSTRUCTION Jule Vigon, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 8, 1953, Serial No. 360,212 Claims. (Cl. 240-81) This invention relates generally to lamp constructions and more particularly is directed to a construction for a table lamp whereby to provide novel and improved illuminating results.

It has been known to provide lamps which have means which scatter the light laterally, such as for example, through a translucent reflector or inverted shade, while at the same time directing the light upwardly into the room, in order to cause same to illuminate the ceiling and reflect therefrom in a soft light diffused throughout the room. This invention provides the same illumination such as described, but in addition provides a novel arrangement whereby the lamp may be caused to provide only upwardly directed light, without in any way altering the mechanical construction of the lamp.

It sometimes occurs that illumination is desired in a room in varying degree with a lamp of the so-called table type. Thus, in the event a sitting room is utilized for general purposes, it is desired to have the maximum of illumination and advisedly a table lamp would best have as much light emanate laterally therefrom as possible, while still preserving the effects of the upwardly directed light. When the sitting room is converted into a viewing room, which may only be caused by the ener gization of a television receiver normally in the room, it is desired to eliminate as much as possible the lateral illumination, while not doing away with the upwardly directed illumination. The lamps of prior construction were not capable of being instantaneously converted from one of these conditions to the other so far as I am aware. Another situation which arises quite often is the use by two persons of a single lamp for multiple purposes. For example, two persons sharing a lamp between them in a room may both desire the upwardly directed soft difiused light, but only one desires the lateral illumination for reading.

With my new invention, the disadvantages of prior lamps in not being able to provide the type of varied illumination as described above have beeneliminated. It is a primary object of the invention to provide such a lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp which will have the advantages of the upwardly directed illumination, and in which half of the lamp is substantially opaque giving a semi-cylindrical area thereabout which is of greatly reduced illumination, but the other half of the lamp being translucent and giving good diffused lateral illumination. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide the varied kind of illumination referred to above, but in which the lamp is simple, having no complex circuits or switches, and no mechanically movable parts to achieve the desired results.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lamp of the character described in which the same is formed of easily produced molded parts, quickly assembled to produce a desirable and pleasing lamp, and in which the construction is adaptable to changes of a simple nareceptacle of box-like formation cured, such as for preferred that the socket 17 be the base 11.

' 12. In view 2 ture to provide unusual and novel lighting effects in addition to the lighting advantages described.

Many other objects lie in the novel constructional features of the lamp whereby same may be assembled without the use of fastening means other than cement, and in which the parts are mutually supported. 3

Other objects will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. In order to enable a complete and clear understanding of the invention I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the accompanying specification preferred embodiments of the invention, it being understood that a great many changes of a minor and insignificant character can readily be made in the shape and proportions of the parts without in any way departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In the drawings in which the same characters of reference are used to designate the same'or similar parts throughout the several figures thereof:

Fig. 1 is a front on elevational view of a lamp constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with portions broken away and other portions in section to show details of the construction of the lamp.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lamp taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1 and in the indicated direction, i. e., looking down toward the base.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the lamp but with the wing removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the lamp and in the indicated direction.

Fig. dis a front on elevational view of a modified form of the'invention with portions broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and in the indicated direction.

Referring now to the drawings, the lamp illustrated in Figs. 1 through 5 is designated generally by the reference character 10. Same comprises a number of parts which have been assembled in order to achieve the unitary whole, and while the particular structure shown and illustrated is intended and designed to be made of molded members of some plastic, such as methyl methacrylate resin or phenolic condensate resins or the like, same could as easily be constructed of glass or other materials. Those parts which are not intended to transmit light'could be formed of wood or metal.

There is provided a base or standard 11 having a 12 secured to the top thereof. The base 11 is shown to be hollow and provided with interior molded bosses 13 within which there may be frictionally secured rubber feet 14. The rubber feet are in the form of beaded members and thus may also be used to hold a bottom base plate 15 in position. The receptacle 12 is provided on its interior walls with a series of vertical ribs 16 whose purpose it is to position a cylindrical electrical bulb socket 17 housed in the receptacle. The socket 17 may be removably seexample by providing a hole in the top wall 18 of the base 11 through which a suitable threaded nipple 19 of the conventional type extends, being held in place by a nut 20. On the other hand it is permanently molded into the receptacle 12 so as to render same firm and unlikely to twist. Both means of securement, i. e., molding and the use of the nipple 19 may be used. Note that the cord 21 extends through an opening 22 in the side of The socket 17 has a rotatable finger switch 23 which extends through a suitable opening 24 in the receptacle of the manner in which the lamp is utigenerally along the line 55 of Fig. 2'

reader and the half 36 .faces the non-reader. -47, in addition to their decorative value, serve as 3 lized, it is not unusual that the opening 22 and switch 23 be on the same side of the lamp.

The upper end of the receptacle 12 mounts a reflector member designated generally 30, the same being preferably formed of plastic like the receptacle 12 and base 11, and being cemented thereto along their junctures. The socket 17 .has a portion that extends upward well into the reflector and a bulb 31 is mounted in the socket in vertical position to serve as the source of illumination for the lamp.

The reflector 30 is symmetrical about a vertical axis, and is formed of a plurality of cylindrical rings or steps 63 of upwardly increasing diameter, the top of the re flector being open so that the light from the bulb 31 will be directed upwardly in a manner to reflect from the ceiling and provide diffused indirect light. Other outwardly flaring reflector means could be used to similar advantage, it not being required that same be formed of steps. For example, a smoothly outwardly flaring reflector might serve equally as well.

It will be seen that the reflector 30 is formed of two halves 36 and 37, each identical in configuration and cemented together along a juncture 38. On opposite faces 40 and 41 of the receptacle 12 there are provided parallel-ridges 42, forming thereby a vertical groove 43. In addition to being cemented to the top edge of the receptacle 12 along the line 44, each of the halves 36 and 37 have opposed depending half-lugs which cooperate when the halves 36 and 37 are cemented together to form the lugs 45 which enter into the top ends of the grooves 43 to properly position the reflector 30. Cemented in place, they also serve to strengthen the connection between reflector 30 and receptacle 12.

The juncture 38 along each side of the reflector 30 is covered by opposed wings 47 of identical construction having their inner edges which engage the reflector of such configuration as closely to follow the outer contour of the reflector. The wings are hollow, as seen in Fig. 3, being preferably made up of a back dished 'section 48 and a front cover section 49, so welded or cemented together as to form a substantially integral unit. In Fig. 1., none of the juncture lines are shown, but same are plainly illustrated in Fig. 5. The lower ends of the wings 47 are cemented to the receptacle 12 and the top wall 18 of the base. thickness of the wings is such that same are of a diameter to slip inside the grooves 42 as shown at 50, with a corner notched at 51 to clear the lugs 45. The ridges are of such width as to cover the notches 51 as well as the lugs, as shown in Fig. l.

The construction described is believed novel, in and of itself, but importantly, the invention contemplates in addition that the two halves 36 and 37 be made of materials of substantially contrasting light transmissive properties. Thus, consider that the half 36 is molded of black practically opaque plastic, while the half 37 is molded of opalescent or white translucent plastic. The base 11, receptacle 12, and wings 47 are preferably of some dark substantially opaque plastic also (although the wings may be light transmissive without materially altering the benefits obtained). Thus, if the lamp is arranged on a television receiver for decorative purposes with the receiver not in use, the half 37 is faced forward and in addition to upward illumination, there will be laterally diffused light, which may illuminate the wings -47 giving additional unusual effects. When the receiver is in use, the lamp is reversed so that the ceiling illumination remains, but now there is substantially no frontward directed illumination to disturb the vision of the viewers.

Likewise, in a room where one party desires to read and the other does not, the translucent half 37 faces the The wings bafiles Preferably the assembled to confine the illumination from the translucent half of the lamp.

Note that the lamp has a pleasing appearance from any side, and further, that although half illumination is accomplished over a cylindrical lateral area of the lamp, insofar as the upward illumination is concerned, the lamp throws substantially the same light, both in kind and amount, as it would if the reflector were totally opaque or translucent. In other words, the benefits of symmetry about a vertical axis remain, although there is a dark area to one side of the lamp. This distinguishes materially from wall bracket lamps which are of socalled half shape, whose utility as a table lamp is nil, and which if attempted to be used as a table lamp, could not be turned around because not constructed to permit this.

The construction of the lamp including the base 11, receptacle 12 and reflector 30 provides substantially all of the benefits of the invention. The wings 47 give additional utility in acting as a battle for the lamp. Obviously the wings may take many different configurations, and may be formed of many different materials to give divers lighting effects. The provision of the grooves 43 in the sides of the receptacle 12 enables other structures to be easily secured to the lamp whereby to vary the ornamental design thereof.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have provided the basic features of my lamp in combination with novel plant receiving means. Thus, the wings 47 are not used. In place thereof I provide a pair of trays or dishes combined with the lamp 61 having growing or articifical plants 62 therein, extending upward to be illuminated by the light from the lamp. The trays are hollow, and each has an inner wall 64 provided with a raised tongue 65 at the center thereof, extending vertically and having a width equal to the inner diameter of the grooves 43. The tongues 65 are matingly engaged within and cemented to the grooves 43 to secure the dishes to the lamp 61. There may also be front and rear extensions 66 of the side walls of the dishes 60 which cover the receptacle 12 and completely hide the ridges 42, abutting against one another along the lines 67 so as to present a smooth, continuous surface from the end of one dish across the lamp to the other.

It is believed that the invention has been fully explained without the need for further detail, and it is desired to point out that I desire to be limited to variations and equivalents thereof only insofar as circumscribed by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp construction having a base portion, means for mounting an electric light bulb in vertical position upon the base, and an upwardly open reflector member surrounding the bulb and being generally symmetrical about its vertical axis, a substantial axial segment of said reflector being of substantially contrasting light transmissive properties compared with the remainder of the reflector, and said lamp having 'baflle members secured on the exterior of the reflector substantially aligned with thejunctures between said segment and remainder whereby sharply to delineate the illumination through the respective parts of the reflector.

2. A lamp construction comprising a base, a receptacle supported on said base, an electric light bulb in vertical position in said receptacle and protruding from said receptacle, an upwardly open reflector member secured on said receptacle and surrounding the light bulb, said reflector member comprising a pair of conjoined identically formed half members, one half member being formed of substantially opaque material and the other being formed of a light transmissive material, said reflector being rigidly secured on said receptacle by means of a lug and slot connection in which each said half member has opposed depending half-lugs which cooperate to form whole lugs when said half-members are joined together, said receptacle having a channel on opposite faces and the lugs being secured therein.

3. A lamp construction comprising a base, a receptacle supported on said base, an electric light bulb in vertical position in said receptacle and protruding from said receptacle, an upwardly open reflector member secured on said receptacle and surrounding the light bulb, said reflector member comprising a pair of conjoined identically formed half members, one half member being formed of substantially opaque material and the other being formed of a light transmissive material, said reflector being rigidly secured on said formation by means of a lug and slot connection in which each said half member has opposed depending half-lugs which cooperate to form Whole lugs when said half-members are joined together, said receptacle having a channel on opposite faces and the lugs being secured therein, said lamp having wing members secured over said half-members at their juncture and extending outwardly of the reflector whereby to delineate the illumination through the respective halves of the reflector.

4. A lamp construction, comprising a base, a box-like upstanding formation secured on the base having'a vertical groove on opposite faces thereof, an electric light bulb in the formation and protruding therefrom, an upwardly open reflector member comprising a pair of identically shaped half-sections joined along a vertical line of juncture, one half-section being formed of substantially opaque material and the other being formed of a translucent material, each half-section having opposed depending half-lugs which cooperate to form Whole lugs when the half-sections are joined, the reflector member secured on the formation with the lugs engaged in said grooves, diametrically opposed wing members fastened over said line of juncture on the exterior of the reflector member and to said formation with each wing member having a portion thereof engaged in a said groove.

5. A lamp construction as described in claim 4 in which each wing member is formed of a pair of complemental parts secured togther to form a substantially integral unit, each such unit has a recess in said portion thereof for clearing the lug in the groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

